Maj Gen Derek Pounds
Posted: Mon 02 Dec, 2002 5:24 pm
Derek Pounds died on 7th November. his Obit in the DT was published today, the following paragraphs say a lot about the man and Royals methods of selection.
Edgar George Derek Pounds was born at Devizes, Wiltshire, on Friday, October 13 1922 (he did not regard this as an unlucky day). He was educated at Reading School. At 17, Pounds presented himself at his local recruiting office, where the only options seemed to be the Navy or the Royal Marines.
As he pondered these alternatives, a large man in a blue uniform, whom he later discovered to be a colour-sergeant, put a hand on his shoulder and said: "You're a well-built lad. You'd better be a Marine."
In later years, Pounds often cited this encounter as a perfect example of personnel selection and career counselling. After training with 384 King's Squad at Chatham, he was awarded the King's Badge, as the best recruit of his intake. By the end of his 36-year career he was unique in being the only general to wear the King's Badge (sported on the left shoulder).
The full obit is at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... db0201.xml
Edgar George Derek Pounds was born at Devizes, Wiltshire, on Friday, October 13 1922 (he did not regard this as an unlucky day). He was educated at Reading School. At 17, Pounds presented himself at his local recruiting office, where the only options seemed to be the Navy or the Royal Marines.
As he pondered these alternatives, a large man in a blue uniform, whom he later discovered to be a colour-sergeant, put a hand on his shoulder and said: "You're a well-built lad. You'd better be a Marine."
In later years, Pounds often cited this encounter as a perfect example of personnel selection and career counselling. After training with 384 King's Squad at Chatham, he was awarded the King's Badge, as the best recruit of his intake. By the end of his 36-year career he was unique in being the only general to wear the King's Badge (sported on the left shoulder).
The full obit is at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... db0201.xml